Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 239, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1917 — Woman Who Gives New Life To Old Clothes Is Aiding In Conservation Movement. [ARTICLE]

Woman Who Gives New Life To Old Clothes Is Aiding In Conservation Movement.

In these times when there is a shortage not only of food materials, but also of textile stuffs, the woman who can clothe herself and her family at a minimum expense is “doing her bit” just as much as the woman whose garbage can fills slowly or the man who makes two potatoes grow where none grew before, declares Beryl Dixon, of the Colorado State Agricultural college. Many articles of clothing that in ordinary times would be discarded without a second thought may, with a little care, be freshened up and made to serve another period of usefulness. Woolen goods may be satisfactorily cleansed by washing in warm water with soap solution or soap bark. Soap bark is prepared for use by letting five cents’ worth stand in two quarts of water for an hour and then straining it into lukewarm water in which the material is to be washed. Water of the same temperature should be used for both washing and rinsing. Press woolens when almost dry, on the wrong side, with a warm iron. Most grease spots may be removed with naphtha soap and warm water. Chemical or dry cleaning will remove grease spots by dissolving the fat. The cleaning liquid may be ether, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, gasoline, naphtha or benzine. The last three should be used in the open air if possible. They must be used away from S fira <ir_a flame of any kind. On silks or satins, rub the grease spot with a thin paste made of benzine and carbonate of magnesia. The benzine evaporates and the magnesia will absorb l the grease and can be brushed off. Very bften dry French chalk or powdered magnesia atone will absorb the grease, several applications sometimes being necessary. A warm iron and blotting paper will remove some grease spots.